THE KANSAS PEACH. 117 



of which are satisfactory. Prefers two-year-old trees, set 15x20 feet, pruned a 

 very little at top and roots — the latter only when bruised or cut. He has no early 

 peaches, but says Heath and Alexander [?] come October 10. No insects but 

 borers harm his trees or fruit, and no diseases. Plants nothing among his trees, 

 but cultivates constantly. Allows no live stock among them. Sells to local 

 trade and wagons from Oklahoma, at from twenty cents to one dollar per bushel. 

 Gives away the culls. Does not think that peach growing on a large scale would 

 pay. Says, further: "Peaches, I think, are badly injured: do not think there is 

 a promise of over twenty-five per cent, of a crop, and it may be a complete failure." 



J. S. Ligjiitt, Belpre, Edwards county, has enjoyed Kansas climate for 

 thirty-one years. He has seventy-five trees planted four years and 400 planted 

 three years. These are all seedlings, twenty of them choice quality and fine size. 

 They are on sandy loam, with clay subsoil, and he thinks that the best soil; likes 

 a north slope best. He plants two-year-old trees, 12x15 feet apart, cut to a stub 

 about two feet high, and the mutilated roots trimmed. He believes in heading 

 in bearing trees, if done properly. Thinks all small trees were killed by extreme 

 cold weather of February, 1899. Some seasons his late peaches are "cooked" on 

 sunny side. Curculio does not trouble his fruit to any perceptible [?] extent. 

 Grows corn among his trees while young, allowing no live stock among them; 

 tried swine last year, but found they injured the trees trying to obtain the fruit. 

 Sells to merchants in near-by towns, at from forty cents to one dollar per bushel. 

 Feeds culls to swine. Believes it would pay to plant largely, especially of best 

 early varieties. 



A. N. Patterson, Ford, Ford county, has 1300 peach trees growing; ninety 

 'per cent, of them are seedlings; 400 of these seedlings bear fruit of fine size and 

 good quality. His trees have been planted from seven to ten years, and the older 

 ones are failing somewhat; they are on a black, sandy loam; he does not know 

 that this is the best soil. He would prefer a north or northeast slope. He is 

 growing Alexander, Crawford's Early and Late, and Osborne's Early. Says that 

 the last three named are shy bearers. He would recommend for market the 

 Alexander and Amsden; they are his favorites. He plants two-year-old trees, 

 eighteen feet apart, pruned so that the top and root are nearly balanced. 

 Never heads back bearing trees; does not think it the best way. His Alexander 

 and Amsden are ripe in July, and he has some seedlings that ripen as late as 

 November. Grasshoppers, wasps and borers ai-e his worst enemies, for which 

 he has as yet done nothing. Has never seen any diseases on his peach trees. He 

 has grown corn among his young peach trees, but does not recommend it. He 

 allows hogs among his trees when he can prevent them from rooting. He says, 

 further: " I find a home market for most of my crop; when I have more than I 

 can dispose of at home, I haul them to Dodge City and sell from house to house, 

 receiving from 50 cents to $2.00 per bushel. I feed my refuse to the hogs." He 

 does not think it would pay to plant largely in his locality. 



Henry Miller, Ulysses, Grant county, has been in the state sixteen years, 

 and has a peach orchard of 165 bearing trees eight years old; 147 of these are 

 seedlings, very choice in quality and size : they are growing in a sandy soil, which 

 he thinks preferable. He likes a northeast slope. Has eighteen budded trees — 

 he has lost the names; but in that dry climate he recommends only seedlings for 

 all purposes, being careful to get those which bear good fruit. He planted the 

 trees at two years old, 12x24 feet, trimming somewhat to balance the root and 



